Silicide micromechanical device and methods to fabricate same

ABSTRACT

A miniaturized electro-mechanical switch includes a moveable portion having a contact configured to make, when the switch is actuated, an electrical connection between two stationary points. At least the contact is composed of a fully silicided material. A structure includes a silicon layer formed over an insulator layer and a micromechanical switch formed at least partially within the silicon layer. The micromechanical switch has a conductive structure, and where at least electrically contacting portions of the conductive structure are comprised of fully silicided material.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This patent application is a continuation patent application ofcopending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/164,126, filed Jun. 20,2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The exemplary embodiments of this invention relate generally tominiaturized electrical-mechanical devices, such as switches, and morespecifically to micro-electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS) and tonano-electrical-mechanical systems (NEMS) and devices.

BACKGROUND

MEMS relate to a technology of very small electrically driven mechanicaldevices. MEMS converges at the nano-scale with NEMS and nanotechnologyin general. MEMS are sometimes referred to as micro-machines or as microsystems technology (MST). MEMS include components between 1 to 100micrometers in size, while MEMS devices can generally range in size fromabout 20 micrometers and larger. NEMS devices are smaller still. At thesize scales of MEMS devices, and even more so NEMS devices, the standardconstructs of classical physics are not always useful. Due at least tothe large surface area to volume ratio surface effects, such aselectrostatics and wetting, can dominate the volume effects such asinertia or thermal mass.

MEMS and NEMS can be fabricated using semiconductor device fabricationtechnologies normally used to make electronic devices. These includephotolithographic patterning, sputtering, evaporation, and wet and dryetching.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect thereof the exemplary embodiments of this inventionprovide a switch that comprises a moveable portion comprising a contactconfigured to make, when the switch is actuated, an electricalconnection between two stationary points. At least the contact iscomprised of a fully silicided material.

In another aspect thereof the exemplary embodiments of this inventionprovide a structure that comprises a substrate comprising a siliconlayer formed over an insulator layer and a micromechanical switch formedat least partially within the silicon layer, the micromechanical switchcomprises a conductive structure, where at least electrically contactingportions of the conductive structure are comprised of fully silicidedmaterial.

In yet another aspect thereof the exemplary embodiments of thisinvention provide an electro-mechanical switch device fabricated by aprocess that comprises providing a silicon layer disposed over aninsulating layer; releasing a portion of the silicon layer from theinsulating layer so that it is at least partially suspended over acavity in the insulating layer; depositing a metal on at least onesurface of at least the released portion of the silicon layer; and fullysiliciding at least the released portion of the silicon layer using thedeposited metal, where the fully silicided released portion functions asa current carrying member of the switch device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top enlarged view of one non-limiting embodiment of a(symmetrical) NEMS switch that can be constructed using the exemplaryembodiments of this invention using a starting SOI wafer.

FIGS. 2A-2D, collectively referred to as FIG. 2, show an exemplaryinitial process flow in accordance with the exemplary embodiments ofthis invention.

FIGS. 3A-3E, collectively referred to as FIG. 3, show a first processflow variation to form a silicided suspended (released) member thatcomprises a part of a NEMS device.

FIGS. 4A-4C, collectively referred to as FIG. 4, show a second processflow variation to form the silicided suspended (released) member thatcomprises a part of a NEMS device.

FIGS. 5A and 5B, collectively referred to as FIG. 5, show a thirdprocess flow variation to form the silicided suspended (released) memberthat comprises a part of a NEMS device.

FIGS. 6A-6E, collectively referred to as FIG. 6, show a fourth processflow variation to form the silicided suspended (released) member thatcomprises a part of a NEMS device.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged top-down view of a NEMS device that can befabricated using the processes of FIGS. 2-6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The use of NEMS (and MEMS) as switches in memory and other applicationscan be beneficial. For example, as compared to transistorselectro-mechanical switches can reduce standby leakage current andpotentially can exhibit improved sub-threshold behavior. However thelarge control gate voltage (typically some tens volts) and overallreliability are two issues that need to be addressed in order to useNEMS as switches.

A silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate can be used for NEMSapplications. It has been demonstrated that the co-integration ofcomplementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and NEMS technologies canbe achieved using SOI wafers.

A silicide can be considered as a compound, for example a binarycompound, of silicon and another element, such as a metal. The use of asilicide (including platinum silicide (PtSi)) can dramatically improveNEMS reliability. Moreover, silicide NEMS may exhibit superiormechanical properties as compared to SOI NEMS. For example, highreliability PtSi atomic force microscope (AFM) conducting tips show thatthey can sustain high currents (>1 mA).

However, there are issues associated with fabricating silicide NEMSstructures. For example, one issue relates to silicide-induced stress tothe Si, resulting in bending of the Si-containing portion of the NEMSstructure after release (i.e., release from the starting SOI wafer of apart of the NEMS device). Further by example, a conventional wetchemical etch (e.g., one based on hydrofluoric (HF) acid) when appliedduring or after release can attack the silicide resulting in corrosion.In general, a wet chemical etch can be disadvantageous for achieving theNEMS release and subsequent processing as it can result in an increasein NEMS stiction. Stiction may be generally defined as a force requiredto cause one body that is in contact with another body to begin to move.

Disclosed herein are process flows and structures to avoid at least theproblems related to excess stress induced into a Si member by silicide,the corrosion of the silicide and NEMS stiction.

It is pointed out that the teachings of this invention are not limitedto the fabrication of NEMS devices per se, but can be applied as well tothe fabrication of MEMS devices and, in general, to the fabrication of avariety of miniaturized electrical-mechanical systems and devices.

FIG. 1 is a top enlarged view of one exemplary and non-limitingembodiment of a (symmetrical) NEMS switch 10 that could be constructedusing the exemplary embodiments of this invention using a SOI wafer. Thestructure shown may be formed to have a total area of less than 5 μm².The switch 10 includes an input terminal 12, an output terminal 14 andcontrol electrodes or terminals 16 and 18 (designated Vdd and GND,respectively.) The application of a suitable control input to theterminals 16 and 18 results in flexure (motion) of a moveable at leastpartially electrically conductive structure 20 between a not actuatedstate and an actuated state. When in the actuated state (the switch isturned on) an electrically conductive path is established between theinput terminal 12 and the output terminal 14 via the electricallyconductive portion of the structure 20 that physically contacts theinput terminal 12 and the output terminal 14.

In accordance with an aspect of the exemplary embodiments of thisinvention at least the electrically contacting portions of theconductive structure 20 are fully silicided (thereby avoiding anybending or other deformation of silicon material), and duringfabrication of the switch 10 the moveable electrically conductivestructure 20 is released from the starting SOI wafer prior to beingsilicided. As a result, no wet etch processing need be performedsubsequent to the release of the moveable electrically conductivestructure 20 from the starting SOI wafer (and the siliciding of themoveable electrically conductive structure 20). The stiction problem isthus also avoided by avoiding the use of the wet chemical etch as thepotential for the presence of corrosion, contaminates and otherundesirable products is reduced or eliminated.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 2A-2D for showing an exemplary initialprocess flow in accordance with the exemplary embodiments of thisinvention. It can be noted that while a single released member is shownas being formed, in practice a large number of such released members canbe simultaneously formed.

In FIG. 2A a starting SOI wafer 30 is provided. The SOI wafer 30includes a substrate (e.g., Si) 32, a layer of buried insulator orburied oxide (BOX) 34, such as SiO₂, and an overlying layer of Si 36.The substrate 32 can have any suitable thickness. The BOX 34 can have athickness in the range of, for example, about 100 nm to about 200 nm,with about 140 nm being one suitable value. The Si layer 36 can have athickness in the range of, for example, about 50 nm to about 100 nm,with about 80 nm being one suitable value.

Note that these thicknesses are merely exemplary, as the embodiments ofthis invention can be practiced as well using an extremely thin SOI(ETSOI) wafer, where the BOX layer may have a thickness of about 50 nmor less and where the overlying layer of Si may have a thickness ofabout 10 nm or less.

In FIG. 2B the Si layer 36, in which the NEMS structure will befabricated, is thinned to a desired thickness in a range of about 20 nmto about 50 nm, with about 30 nm being one suitable value. The thinnedlayer of Si is designated as 36 a.

In FIG. 2C the Si layer 36 a is masked and patterned and a reactive ionetch (RIE) process is used to selectively remove a portion of the Silayer 36 a to delineate the desired NEMS structure. In FIG. 2C thedelineated portion is designated 38 and can correspond to, for example,what will form a part of the moveable electrically conductive structure20 shown in FIG. 1. This process also forms what may be referred to asopenings or apertures 36 b through the thinned Si layer 36 a.

In FIG. 2D a vapor HF process is performed to completely remove throughthe apertures 36 b the underlying BOX material beneath the delineatedportion 38, thereby forming a cavity within the BOX material andreleasing the delineated portion 38 from the BOX layer 34 (a region ofconnection between the released delineated portion 38 and the Si layer36 a is not shown in FIG. 2D). The result of the vapor HF etch processalso serves to undercut to some distance the material of the BOX layer34 beneath the Si layer 36 a, thereby recessing sidewalls 34 a of theBOX cavity away from the apertures 36 b.

FIG. 2 can be considered to illustrate precursor processing steps to theactual silicide process that will be described in the severalembodiments (process flow variations) found in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6.

FIGS. 3A-3E show a first process flow variation (embodiment) to form afully silicided suspended (released) member that comprises a part of aNEMS device such as the switch 20 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3A a layer 40of carbon is deposited so that it covers the structure depicted in FIG.2D and fills the void beneath the delineated and released portion 38that resulted from the vapor HF etch process. Chemical vapor depositionor plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition from a suitable precursor,such as acetylene or ethylene are suitable techniques to deposit thecarbon layer 40. During the carbon deposition process the conditions canbe: 785 W high frequency RF, 6 Torr, 550° C., 600 sccm C₃H₆, 326 scm He.In FIG. 3B the carbon layer 40 is etched back, such as by using anoxygen or a hydrogen based plasma, to reveal the top surfaces of the Silayer 36 a and the Si delineated released portion 38. During etch-backprocess the conditions can be: 1) 30 mTorr/700Ws/300Wb/260NH₃/NSTU(reverse): 3/CSTUi 8/15-15 (no CHF₃); 2) 4mTorr/400Ws/100Wb/100N₂/14O₂/20Ar/2C₂H₄. In FIG. 3C a selective atomiclayer deposition of a metal, such as platinum (Pt), is performed tocover the exposed surfaces of the Si layer 36 a and the Si delineatedreleased portion 38 with a Pt layer 42. The thickness of the depositedPt is preferably sufficient to cause the underlying Si material to befully consumed and silicided during subsequent thermal processing. As anon-limiting example, and if one assumes that the Si thickness of thereleased portion 38 is in a range of about 20 nm to about 50 nm, thenthe thickness of the Pt layer 42 can be in a range of about 15 nm toabout 40 nm. In FIG. 3D the remaining carbon layer 40 is removed such asby the use of the oxygen or hydrogen based plasma, and the carbonremoval conditions can be the same as those shown above for the carbonetch-back process of FIG. 3B. In FIG. 3E a reaction anneal process isperformed so as to fully silicide the suspended NEMS structurecorresponding to the Si delineated released portion 38 having the Ptlayer 42. The reaction anneal also fully silicides the Si layer 36 a.The reaction anneal can be performed using the conditions: 500° C. 30seconds in N₂ then 600° C. 60 seconds in O₂. More generally the reactionanneal can be performed at a temperature in a range of about 300° C. toabout 750° C. and the time adjusted accordingly.

The resulting NEMS structure thus has a fully silicided suspended(released) member 50B and fully silicided fixed members 50A (that canform electrodes or other electrically conductive features). By “fullysilicided” what is meant is that there is substantially no residual Siremaining, as the Si has been reacted with the metal (Pt in thisexample) to form a silicide (PtSi in this example). The problem relatingto the stress-induced bending of a suspended (partially) silicided Sibeam or member is thus overcome, as the Si that formed what wasoriginally the released portion 38 has been substantially completelyreplaced by the PtSi. In addition, no wet chemical processing was usedafter release (FIG. 2D), thereby avoiding any degradation of thesilicide and also reducing the potential for excessive stiction tooccur.

FIGS. 4A-4C show a second process flow variation (embodiment) to formthe silicided suspended (released) member that comprises a part of aNEMS device, such as the switch 20 shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 4A an oxidepassivation step is performed using self-assembled monolayers (SAM),such as octadecyltrichlorosilane ODTS SAMs. As is known selective areaALD can use SAM as ALD growth-preventing mask layers. The SAM passivatesthe surface against ALD growth so that the film is deposited only onareas without a SAM. SAMs can be formed spontaneously through adsorptionto a solid surface from a liquid or a gas phase. Reference can be made,for example, to E. Farm et al., Selective Area Atomic Layer DepositionUsing Poly(methyl methacrylate) Films as Mask Layers, J. Phys. Chem. C.2008, 112, 15791-15795.

In the example of FIG. 4A the sidewalls 34A of the insulating layer 34have SAM formed thereon. The SAM can be a polymer such as theabove-mentioned octadecyltrichlorosilane ODTS SAMs or any suitablematerial. In FIG. 4B selective ALD Pt deposition is performed. In thiscase, and in contrast to FIG. 3D, the Pt layer 42 is formed on allexposed surfaces with the exception of the sidewalls 34A where the SAMwas formed. In FIG. 4C a reaction anneal process (e.g., a rapid thermalanneal (RTA) in an N₂ atmosphere) is performed so as to full silicidethe suspended NEMS structure corresponding to the Si delineated releasedportion 38 having the Pt layer 42. The reaction anneal also fullysilicides the Si layer 36 a, as well as underlying portion of the Sisubstrate 32 having the Pt layer 42 deposited thereon. The reactionanneal can be performed using the conditions: 500° C. 30 seconds in N₂then 600° C. 60 seconds in O₂. More generally the reaction anneal can beperformed at a temperature in a range of about 300° C. to about 750° C.and the time adjusted accordingly. Note that the SAM will selectivelydeposit to the BOX and will thus prevent metal (Pt) deposition on theside wall of the BOX.

After the reaction anneal process of FIG. 4C the SAM can be removed fromthe BOX sidewalls using the conditions: 1) 30mTorr/700Ws/300Wb/260NH₃/NSTU (reverse): 3/CSTUi 8/15-15 (no CHF₃); 2) 4mTorr/400Ws/100Wb/100N₂/14O₂/20Ar/2C₂H₄.

The resulting NEMS structure thus has a fully silicided suspended(released) member 50B and fully silicided fixed members 50A, in additionto a fully silicided conductive area 50C that underlies the fullysilicided suspended (released) member 50B. In that the sidewalls 34Awere not exposed to the Pt ALD, there need be no direct electrical pathfrom the silicided fixed members 50A or the silicided suspended(released) member 50B to the fully silicided conductive area 50C. As inthe embodiment of FIG. 3 the problem relating to the bending of asuspended silicided Si beam or member is thus overcome, as the Si thatformed what was originally the released portion 38 has been completelyreplaced by the PtSi. In addition, no wet chemical processing is usedafter release (FIG. 2D), thereby avoiding any degradation of the PtSiand also reducing the potential for stiction to occur.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a third process flow variation to form thesilicided suspended (released) member that comprises a part of a NEMSdevice, such as the switch 20 shown in FIG. 1. The process shown in FIG.5 is similar in some respects to the process shown in FIG. 4, as bothbegin with the structure produced as a result of the processing stepsshown in FIG. 2. However, in FIG. 5A the layer 42 of Pt is formed not byALD, as in FIG. 4B, but by a Pt evaporation process. As a result the Ptdeposition occurs only on those surfaces directly exposed to the flow ofevaporated Pt, and in this case then the Si delineated released portion38 acts as a mask to inhibit Pt deposition on the underlying surface ofthe Si substrate 32. As a result the Pt layer 42 is formed on the topsurfaces of the layer 36 a, the released portion 38 and that portion ofthe surface of the Si substrate 32 that is exposed through the apertures36 b. Due to the presence of the recessed oxide (as a result of theprocessing performed in FIG. 2D) the sidewalls 34 a of the BOX 34 aresubstantially free of deposited Pt as well. In FIG. 5B the reactionanneal process is performed so as to full silicide the suspended NEMSstructure corresponding to the Si delineated released portion 38 havingthe Pt layer 42. The reaction anneal also fully silicides the Si layer36 a, as well as the underlying portions of the Si substrate 32 havingthe Pt layer 42 deposited thereon. As before, the reaction anneal can beperformed using the conditions: 500° C. 30 seconds in N₂ then 600° C. 60seconds in O₂. More generally the reaction anneal can be performed at atemperature in a range of about 300° C. to about 750° C. and the timeadjusted accordingly.

The resulting NEMS structure thus also has a fully silicided suspended(released) member 50B and fully silicided fixed members 50A, in additionto two fully silicided conductive areas 50C that underlie the apertures36 b on both sides of the fully silicided suspended (released) member50B. In that the recessed sidewalls 34A were not exposed to the Ptevaporation flow, there need be no direct electrical path from thesilicided fixed members 50A or the silicided suspended (released) member50B to the fully silicided conductive areas 50C. As in the embodiment ofFIGS. 3 and 4 the problem relating to the bending of a suspendedsilicided Si beam or member is thus overcome, as the Si that formed whatwas originally the released portion 38 has been completely replaced bythe Pt silicide. In addition, no wet chemical processing was used afterrelease (FIG. 2D), thereby avoiding any degradation of the silicide andreducing the potential for stiction to occur.

FIGS. 6A through 6E show a fourth process flow variation to form thesilicided suspended (released) member that comprises a part of a NEMSdevice, such as the switch 20 shown in FIG. 1. The process shown in FIG.6 begins with the structure produced as a result of the processing stepsshown in FIG. 2. Note, however, that in this embodiment the dry HF vaporetch process of FIG. 2D is controlled so as to result in little or noundercut of the BOX 34 beneath the Si layer 36 a. In FIG. 6A the layer42 of Pt is formed by sputtering. As a result the Pt deposition occursonly on those surfaces directly exposed to the flow of sputtered Pt theSi delineated released portion 38 acts as a mask to inhibit Ptdeposition on the underlying surface of the Si substrate 32. In thiscase the Pt layer 42 is formed on the top surfaces of the layer 36 a,the released portion 38, that portion of the surface of the Si substrate32 that is exposed through the apertures 36 b, and also on the sidewalls34 a of the BOX cavity. In FIG. 6B the reaction anneal process isperformed so as to full silicide the suspended NEMS structurecorresponding to the Si delineated released portion 38 having the Ptlayer 42. The reaction anneal also fully silicides the Si layer 36 a, aswell as the underlying portions of the Si substrate 32 having the Ptlayer 42 deposited thereon. The reaction anneal can be performed usingthe conditions: 500° C. 30 seconds in N₂. More generally the reactionanneal can be performed at a temperature in a range of about 300° C. toabout 750° C. and the time adjusted accordingly.

In FIG. 6C, without removing the wafer from the reaction anneal chambera second anneal at 600° C. for 60 seconds in O₂, or 650° C. for 30seconds in O₂, is performed. This rapid thermal anneal in O₂ selectivelyforms a thin SiO₂ protective oxide layer 60 only on the PtSi, and not onthe unreacted Pt formed on the BOX sidewalls 34 a. Reference in thisregard can be made to Z. Zhang, S.-L. Zhang and M. Östling, Robust,Scalable Self-Aligned Platinum Silicide Process, Applied Physics Letters88, 142114 (2006).

In FIG. 6D a reactive ion etch process is performed to remove the(unprotected) Pt from the BOX sidewalls 34 a. The RIE process does notaffect the PtSi material beneath the protective SiO₂ layer 60. In FIG.6E a second (dry) vapor HF process is used to remove the protective SiO₂layer 60.

FIG. 7 shows a top, enlarged view of a NEMS device 70 that can befabricated using the processes of FIGS. 2-6. The device 70 is fabricatedto include a source (S) 72, a drain (D) 74 and a gate (G) 76. Attachedto the source 72 is an elongated electrically conductive fully-silicidedmember 78 that is capable of flexure and that can function as a switchcontact.

Many modifications and variations can become apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit ofthe invention. For example, different materials, metals (e.g., otherthan Pt such as Ni, W, Er, Yb, Ti, Co), thicknesses, processing stepsand parameters can be used, and thus silicides other than PtSi can beformed. Further, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to thefabrication of switches in MEMS or in NEMS devices and structures.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct for controlling the processing of the SOI wafer as discussedabove in FIGS. 2-6. Thus, aspects of the present invention may take theform of a computer program product embodied in one or more computerreadable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodiedthereon. Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) maybe utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readablesignal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. The embodiments werechosen and described in order to best explain the principles of theinvention and the practical applications thereof, and to enable othersof ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for variousembodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particularuse contemplated.

As such, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent tothose skilled in the relevant arts in view of the foregoing description,when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims. As but some examples, the use of other similar or equivalentmathematical expressions may be used by those skilled in the art.However, all such and similar modifications of the teachings of thisinvention will still fall within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A switch, comprising a moveable portionconfigured to physically move between a first position and a secondposition, the moveable portion comprising a contact configured to make,when the switch is actuated and the moveable portion is in the firstposition, an electrical connection between two stationary points, andwhen the switch is not actuated and the moveable portion is in thesecond position, to open the electrical connection between the twostationary points, where at least an entirety of said moveable portionincluding said contact is comprised of a fully silicided material. 2.The switch as in claim 1, where said fully silicided material iscomprised of PtSi, or NiSi, or WSi, or ErSi, or YbSi, or TiSi, or CoSi.3. The switch as in claim 1, comprised of a MEMS or a NEMS switch.
 4. Astructure, comprising: a substrate comprising a silicon layer formedover an insulator layer; and a micromechanical switch formed at leastpartially within the silicon layer, the micromechanical switchcomprising a conductive structure comprising a moveable portionconfigured to physically move between a first position and a secondposition, the moveable portion comprising a contact configured to make,when the switch is actuated and the moveable portion is in the firstposition, an electrical connection between two stationary points, andwhen the switch is not actuated and the moveable portion is in thesecond position, to open the electrical connection between the twostationary points, where at least an entirety of said moveable portionincluding electrically contacting portions of the conductive structureand including said contact are comprised of fully silicided material. 5.The structure as in claim 4, where the fully silicided material iscomprised of PtSi, or NiSi, or WSi, or ErSi, or YbSi, or TiSi, or CoSi.6. The structure as in claim 4, where said micromechanical switch iscomprised of a MEMS or a NEMS switch.
 7. The structure as in claim 4,where at least a moveable portion of said conductive structure isreleased from said insulator layer.
 8. An electro-mechanical switchdevice fabricated by a process that comprises: providing a silicon layerdisposed over an insulating layer; releasing a portion of the siliconlayer from the insulating layer so that it is at least partiallysuspended over a cavity in the insulating layer; depositing a metal onat least one surface of at least the released portion of the siliconlayer; and fully siliciding at least the released portion of the siliconlayer using the deposited metal, where the fully silicided releasedportion functions as a moveable current carrying member of the switchdevice configured to physically move between a first position and asecond position, the moveable current carrying member comprising acontact configured to make, when the switch device is actuated and themoveable current carrying member is in the first position, an electricalconnection between two stationary points, and when the switch device isnot actuated and the moveable current carrying member is in the secondposition, to open the electrical connection between the two stationarypoints.
 9. The switch device of claim 8, where no wet chemical etchingprocess is performed subsequent to releasing the portion of the siliconlayer.
 10. The switch device of claim 8, where releasing is performedusing a HF vapor.
 11. The switch device of claim 8, where depositing ametal is comprised of depositing a layer comprised of carbon so that itfills the cavity, removing a portion of the layer comprised of carbon soas expose a top surface of the released portion of the silicon layer andsurrounding portions of the silicon layer, using atomic layer depositionto form the layer of metal on the exposed top surface, and removing theremainder of the layer comprised of carbon prior to fully siliciding.12. The switch device of claim 8, where the step of releasing forms thecavity so that an underlying top surface of a silicon substrate isexposed at the bottom of the cavity, and where depositing a metal iscomprised of applying self-assembled monolayers to sidewalls of thecavity, and using atomic layer deposition to form the layer of metal onexposed surfaces of the released portion of the silicon layer,surrounding portions of the silicon layer, and the exposed surface ofthe silicon substrate, but not on the sidewalls of the cavity.
 13. Theswitch device of claim 8, where the step of releasing forms the cavityso that an underlying top surface of a silicon substrate is exposed atthe bottom of the cavity, and where depositing a metal is comprised ofevaporating the metal to form the layer of metal on exposed surfaces ofthe released portion of the silicon layer, surrounding portions of thesilicon layer, the exposed surface of the silicon substrate notunderlying the released portion of the silicon layer, but not on thesidewalls of the cavity.
 14. The switch device of claim 8, where thestep of releasing forms the cavity so that an underlying top surface ofa silicon substrate is exposed at the bottom of the cavity, and wheredepositing a metal is comprised of sputtering the metal to form thelayer of metal on exposed surfaces of the released portion of thesilicon layer, surrounding portions of the silicon layer, the exposedsurface of the silicon substrate not underlying the released portion ofthe silicon layer, and on sidewalls of the cavity, where fullysiliciding silicides the sputtered metal on the released portion of thesilicon layer, the surrounding portions of the silicon layer and theexposed surface of the silicon substrate not underlying the releasedportion of the silicon layer, and further comprising forming aprotective oxide layer selectively only on fully silicided surfaces,removing the sputtered metal from the sidewalk of the cavity, andremoving the protective oxide layer.
 15. The switch device of claim 8,where the metal is comprised of one of Pt, Ni, W, Er, Yb, Ti, Co, andwhere the fully silicided released portion of the silicon layer iscomposed of PtSi, or NiSi, or WSi, or ErSi, or YbSi, or TiSi, or Co Si.16. The switch device of claim 8, where fully siliciding uses a thermalprocess that is performed in a range of about 300° C. to about 750° C.17. The switch device of claim 16, where the thermal process iscomprised of heating in a nitrogen atmosphere followed by heating in anoxygen atmosphere.
 18. The switch device of claim 14, where fullysiliciding uses a thermal process that comprises heating in a nitrogenatmosphere, and where forming the protective oxide layer selectivelyonly on fully silicided surfaces comprises heating in an oxygenatmosphere.
 19. The switch device of claim 11, where the layer comprisedof carbon is removed using a plasma.
 20. The switch device of claim 8,where the switch device is one of a MEMS or NEMS switch device.